How To Start a CRE Capital Markets Firm

[Ethan Wagner]

I've worked in the commercial real estate industry for a few years doing capital markets, acquisitions, and valuation advisory and I want to start my own firm doing debt and equity placement.

Does anyone have any advice on how to get started in this space? I could go work for the bigger players (CBRE, JLL, Walker Dunlop, NKF, etc.), but my family cannot relocate to a big city.

I know the business with regards to structuring the capital stack, how investors/developers look at deals, how lenders look at deals, and I can underwrite CRE investments. I just need to figure out how to get started and what licenses I need (if any) before I can have my agreement signed and start closing deals.

Any advice is welcome and thank you all for your time.

[Ryan Seib]

It is probably state-licensed. I would say reach out to the state's professional safety/licensing bureau. They should point you to the right licensing procedures. Beyond that you would market your services. I am a little unclear what your consulting would encompass. But you could maybe use or need some federal licensure as well (ie FINRA, etc).